Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 9/20/2007

Question
My sister in law had a biopsy this past friday(9/14/07) of a knot in her neck.  Monday the dr said that she had cancer in her lung and it consisted of the lymph nodes in her neck.  I have to assume it was malignant.  She went to general surgeon on wed (9/19/07.  He told them there was nothing that he could do for them and made appt for oncologist for that afternoon.  The oncologist told them they could start extensive chemo on Tues which i guess will be about 9/25/07).  He told them that miracles do still happen and that chemo may give her 2 years.  He said the best you can do right now is to have God and prayer on your side.  She is going to have some type of scan this evening, because the dr feels she already may have tumors in her brain.  She has been having borderline migranines now for about 3-4 weeks and has been losing a lot of unexplaniable weight.  This has all happened so quick.  I know her outcome does not look good.  I really want to understand how all this works.  I do not know what  stage the dr has said she is in, but i would think maybe 3 or 4 which i guess is C or D.  Can you please give me an idea of what she is facing and can she actually live for 2 years or will it possibly be just a few months.  I do not know who to ask any questoins to.  Thank you,

Answer
If indeed it has spread to her brain she is a stage 4 cancer case, the worst alternative. Well if she is VERY lucky she can MAYBE live 2 more years, but if indeed it has spread to her brain I think a one year maximum survival period is much more probable at best unfortunately and that is with all available chemo therapy and radiation therapy being used. If it has spread to her brain it should be given radiation therapy ASAP to lessen her symptoms. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you! 90% or so of all lung cancers are caused by smoking (so about 10% are not). Almost all lung cancer patients are killed by their cancers. So if people did not smoke almost 90% of all lung cancer deaths could be prevented! That is why it is so important to make people stop smoking (and it is NOT the only reason)!
Unfortunately her prognosis is very bad!